Pasifika Resources

A selection of resources focused on the pedagogy of Pasifika language teaching

Student reading materials in Pasifika languages

The Tupu series provides reading materials in Sāmoan, Tongan, Cook Islands Māori, Niue language, and Tokelauan, which include books and audio recordings suitable for early childhood, primary, and secondary school learners. Although no longer being published, it is still worthwhile looking for these books in your school resource room. TheFolaugaseries provides students’ reading material in Sāmoan mainly for the primary area but some issues can be used in secondary. Folauga and the Tupu series are both accompanied by teachers’ notes that are linked to the relevant curriculum guidelines and reflect best practice principles for language learning.

ESOL resources

The English Language Learning Progressions (ELLP) explain what ESOL specialists and mainstream teachers need to know about English language learners. They will help teachers to choose content, vocabulary, and tasks that are appropriate to each learner's age, stage, and language-learning needs. This may include learners for whom English is a first language but who would benefit from additional language support.

this is designed to support ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) programmes in Years 1-6. It is not intended to be a whole programme in itself, but provides guidelines for teachers of ESOL programmes by selecting some text examples, language outcomes, and language learning focus points at three phases of English language learning.

this is designed to support ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) programmes for students in years 7–13. It is not intended to be a whole programme in itself, but provides guidelines for teachers of ESOL programmes by selecting some language outcomes and language learning focus points at three phases of English language learning.

This recently updated ESOL Resources PowerPoint will enable schools to become familiar with the range of materials available to assist English language learners. The Ministry ESOL resources are organised into the following categories:

Key teacher resources that include ESOL information

The following resources include valuable information that is relevant for ESOL teaching and learning:

Effective Literacy Practice in Years 1 to 4 and Effective Literacy Practice in Years 5 to 8 have specific advice and suggestions about meeting the needs of English-language learners. The section on pages 127–130 of the latter is particularly useful.

Effective Literacy Strategies in Years 9 to 13: A Guide for Teachers is a handbook designed to support secondary school teachers in all subject areas as they learn and teach literacy and thinking strategies to meet the needs of their students. While the book is intended to benefit all teachers of secondary students, teachers with ESOL students will find it particularly useful.

The resource packages Guided Reading (a book, two videos, and a CD for teachers of years 1 to 4) and Guided Reading: Years 5 to 8 (a book and video) explain the use of guided reading as an effective approach for primary school teachers to use with all their students, including ESOL students. The sections on meeting diverse needs and the case studies are especially relevant.

has a great deal of material that is useful to both mainstream teachers of Pasifika students and primary and secondary ESOL teachers. It also has specific sections for mainstream primary and secondary teachers including:

StudyIt is a site for NCEA mathematics, science, and English students. Students can email experts and get study and exam advice and help with revision and practice. They can also exchange views and get encouragement from other students through the forum.

Living Heritage is an online bilingual initiative that enables New Zealand schools to develop and publish an online resource based on a heritage treasure in their community. The process incorporates the use of ICT across a range of curriculum areas. Participation in Living Heritage is free to all New Zealand schools and open to all age groups.

This site provides links to Sāmoan communities around the world. The focus is to provide information about the arts, crafts, language, culture, and history of Sāmoa and Sāmoan people, and about current events.

Ministry of Education (2003f). Reading Literacy in New Zealand: Final Results from the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) and the Repeat of the 1990–1991 Reading Literacy Survey (10-Year Trends) for Year 5 Students. Wellington: Research Division, Author.

Nakhid, C. (2003). "Comparing Pasifika students’ perceptions of their schooling with the perception of non-Pasifika teachers using the ‘mediated dialogue’ as a research methodology". New Zealand Journal of Educational Studies, 38, 207–226.

Osteoporosis New Zealand (2001). Choice action. Wellington: Author.

Sachar, L. (2000). Holes. London: HarperCollins Publishers.

Swain, M. (1998). "Focus on form through conscious reflection". In C. Doughty & J. Williams, (Eds.), Focus on form in classroom second language acquisition. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Woolfolk Hoy, A. (2004, April). What do teachers need to know about self-efficacy? Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, San Diego, CA. Retrieved 3 January 2006.